'CPU Killer' Star Citizen: 30 CPUs from 4 to 24 Cores benchmarked
Star Citizen is alive and well - and, thanks to its high workload and exciting tech, makes for a highly compelling CPU benchmark. PCGH puts 30 CPUs to the test and explores what makes Chris Roberts' never-ending project so special.
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Star Citizen remains one of the most unusual projects in the gaming industry even in 2026. No other title combines such high technical ambitions with such a long development cycle, while also boasting a community that treats every new alpha version like a minor release. The game is still not finished; instead, it thrives on its ongoing expansion. That is precisely what makes the title fascinating to many and a constant source of controversy for others. Currently, the Persistent Universe is running Alpha 4.7 as its live version, while additional content is already being prepared for 4.8. Squadron 42 - the single-player mode of Star Citizen - remains a central component of the overall project. The campaign is intended to complement the universe as a cinematic single-player spin-off and is still officially scheduled for release in 2026.
Squadron 42 is seen as a barometer of the technical maturity of the entire project. Until this milestone is reached, Star Citizen remains, for many observers, a grand promise with an open-ended future. That said, Star Citizen is far from a scam; countless players are already exploring its ever-expanding universe. But today isn't about the history of Chris Roberts' life's work; it's about something much more tangible: CPU benchmarks. We received a tip from the PCGHX community that Star Citizen places enormous demands on CPUs and utilizes cores like no other game. Many readers have also requested tests of the new AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition in this context. We're happy to oblige and present to you today the most extensive processor test in Star Citizen to date.
Star Citizen: Status quo
The Persistent Universe is currently running based on Alpha version 4.7.2, following the release of Alpha 4.7 in March 2026, which marked one of the most significant developmental milestones in recent years. With this update, Cloud Imperium Games is introducing the core systems for fabrication and blueprints for the first time. Crafting is thus being integrated into the universe as a playable feature. Added to this are a new inventory system and the so-called Breaker Stations, which, as a multi-stage gameplay activity, bring additional mission structures to the Nyx system. The crafting system, in particular, is considered one of the most important building blocks for the game's future. Players will no longer just collect and sell resources, but will be actively integrated into production chains. Fabricators, blueprints, and, in the long term, larger manufacturing processes for bases, equipment, and ships are intended to strengthen the economic foundation of the persistent universe. Developers are already discussing further expansion stages such as secondary materials, better weapon attachments, mining modules, and expanded blueprint management. Player trading also remains a planned next step. So things remain exciting around this major project. According to the official patch history, Alpha 4.7 also includes more than 150 bug fixes and numerous crash fixes. Based on our recent experience, these and many others are urgently needed, as the futuristic framework is still creaking under heavy load.
On the next page, we'll take a closer look at Star Citizen's hardware requirements based on the current Alpha 4.7.2 build. We'll focus particularly on CPUs performance and utilization - two areas where Star Citizen truly shines. To outline these requirements, we've tested numerous processors ranging from 8 to 32 threads. Find out which architectures come out on top and what role cores and cache play with just one click.
